Thursday, September 23, 2010

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods, www.gardenofgods.com,  is a National Natural Landmark right in the city of Colorado Springs. It is 3 million years in the making. Three different type of rocks make up these elaborate formations, White Lyons Sandstone, Red Lyons Sandstone and Fountain Conglomorate (sand, gravel and mud). Many, many layers of this sedimentary rock has hardened and cemented over time and then given way to erosion, faulting and uplifting. The results are spectacular. As they say in the AAA magazine Via, "If you are going..." you can take the driving tour around the park which takes about 30 minutes. One should allow for stopping off at various view points for picture taking as we did, or if everyone can walk there are several nature trails to hike. Additionally, for the fit and foolish you can rock climb these monster rocks. We had 3 dogs and a handicapped person so we didn't get far but this park is free and someday Dean and I would like to hike the trails. Ryan and Sadie have already been hiking up the side of Pike's Peak so while they may visit the Park again someday, it is more of a hike for flat landers (rock climbing aside). We actually circled the park twice and finally ended up at the gift shop (of course). This Park has one of the more extensive gift shops I have ever seen. In addition to the usual souvenirs the shop had original art, jewelery and a nice little coffee counter. Also if you are going, try not to go on the week-end and for you photographers the best lighting for photos is at dusk or sundown. Unfortunately for me we were there in the middle of the day. It was quite bright out. 







Our day at Garden of the Gods was quite perfect but we have left our final big adventure for the last day of our visit. We will ascend Pike's Peak, 14,1100 feet elevation, on the Cog Railway......................

Friday, September 17, 2010

Arrival

So, after two and a half days on the road we finally arrive in beautiful, sunny Colorado Springs. Ryan and the three dogs, Dozer, Pokie and Sassy all came out to greet us. Ryan and Sadie have rented a small, old log cabin on 5 acres on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. They have their dogs, their two horses and all the peace and quite they have been longing for. The place is very well suited to them. Sadie is still at work so my two fellas and I relax in the yard until its time to meet Sadie for dinner. We decided to go to a place called the Craftwood Inn http://www.craftwood.com.  They feature game from the Colorado area including elk, wild boar, venison, pheasant and duck. Dean and Ryan had elk, Sadie had wild boar and I had........well, chicken. Hey, my father was a wildlife biologist, I know what that wild shit tastes like. All kidding aside, I had a taste of the elk and the boar and both were quite good.
The next day we went to this very local BBQ stand (pretty much just a smoker and a bathroom sized kitchen) and bought two large racks of ribs, preceded of course by some wonderful cheese and wine and beer. We ate  a lot which by most accounts is the best part of any vacation. That afternoon Sadie had to work as a volunteer at the Colorado Springs Annual Balloon Festival as part of her new job with USAA Credit Union. It was a bit of a hike but I crutched myself out to the open park area and Dean set me up in a folding chair beneath the shade of a big oak tree and we waited until dark. At about 8:00 p.m. approximately 30 balloons began performing what they call a "glow show." They spout off their flames and light up the whole park. It is a three day event that takes place every Labor Day Week-end in Colorado Springs. Two mornings in a row about 100 balloons take flight shortly after dusk. Then each evening they have a "glow show." The event is said to attract about 200,000 people over the 3 days. It seemed all 200,000 were trying to leave the park the same time we were that night. We needed to get home and get our rest as we were going to attempt Garden of the Gods the next day..........................

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Utah and Wyoming at 75 miles per hour








We had no idea of the magnificent countryside that lay in store for us as we traveled through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. As we continued heading east on I-80 in Nevada the first day, I was snapping pictures out the car window fearing I would miss shots of the interesting and ever changing terrain. In fact the majority of pictures I took on the trip were from the car window as I was confined to moving about on one foot. So very frustrating for a photographer. We did stop at Echo Reservoir for about 15 minutes to stretch. The website for US Parks shows where this is on the map in Utah http://www.us-parks.com/bor/echo-reservoir/echo-reservoir.html Also, as promised, I've included a few shots through my squashed bug filter (AKA the windshield). The AAA book mentioned some points of interest along I-80 East but we were anxious to arrive in Colorado Springs for the onset of Labor Day week-end and 4 wonderful days with Ryan and Sadie. One point in particular tickled our curiosity and that was a two ton, 13.5 foot tall statue of Abraham Lincoln that sits smack dab on I-80 between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/8450. Evidently the statue was sculpted by a University of Wyoming Professor in honor of our 16th President's 150th birthday and used to sit along the Lincoln Hwy. Makes sense. However, according to the website the statue was moved when I-80 was completed in 1969. We didn't stop but I did catch a shot as we whizzed by. We made it as far as Cheyenne, Wyoming the 2nd day and stayed at a hotel called Little America Hotel, http://www.littleamerica.com/cheyenne/?gclid=CMGhn_Peh6QCFQY-bAodt1_JHQ. It was a great place with a very good restaurant called Hathaway's AND a gift shop. Dean was all worn down from all the driving (I can't drive right now you know) and in his weakened state he ended up buying me a beautiful white on white embroidered blouse with mother of pearl buttons and a waist length, taupe colored, water repellent jacket. Score!!!
From Cheyenne it is only about a 3 hour drive to Colorado Springs................................

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Road Trip to Colorado Springs, Days One & Two






Day one was uneventful driving from Woodland, Ca (hometown USA) all through Nevada right to the border of Utah. We stayed at Rainbow Hotel and Casino located smack dab in the middle of a giant salt flat area. We had a lovely dinner (no sarcasm here, really) and then retired to our room. We crashed at 10:30 p.m. and then we were jolted awake at 5:30 a.m. by the ridiculously loud fire alarm. So picture this, I'm limited to one foot right? so the piercing alarm sounds and I sit straight up and start looking for my crutches in the pitch dark room. It occurs to me that my nightie barely covers my ass so I also clumsily start to feel around for my suitcase and something to put on my bottom. In the back of my mind I'm thinking, "OMG, I'm on the third f'ing floor." Meanwhile Dean has jumped from the bed and is scurrying around in his birthday suit trying to figure out what that noise is. If it had been a real fire most likely we would have burned up. Turns out it was only a drunk guy believing that the entire 4 floors of hotel guests should have a 5:30 a.m. wake up call.
Needless to say, early start. We had a less than yummy breakfast at the Casino's 24 hour cafe (no surprise there) and hit the road. The pictures I'm posting are of the Bonneyville Salt Flat Raceway (or so Dean tells me). The shots are taken about 30 miles East of Wendover, Nevada off of I-80. We are actually in Utah. Dean pointed out the levity of the sign that reads, "no services ahead" out in the middle of the salt flats, no shit Sherlock. Anyway, the photos aren't great but they do depict the shear flat openness of the area.
Check in later for pictures of Utah and Wyoming taken out the car window at 75 miles per hours. Some of the photos I've actually used a new lens filter called smashed bug guts on the windshield filter.